PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XIII, Issue 774, 7 April 1860, Page 4

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Tuesday, Apeil 3. - Present—The Speaker, Messrs. Alport, Bishop, Blakiston, Cass, Cookson, Davis, Dobbs, Fooks, Harston, Higgins, Latter, Miln, Ollivier, Ehodes, Tetnpler, Thomson, Ward, and Wyatt. Prayers were read by the Chaplain, and the minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. Mr. E. F. B. Haeston took his seat for the Heathcote district. On the motion of Mr. Blakiston, seconded by Mr. Olliviee, Mr. C. B. Fooks was elected Chairman of Committees. Mr. Olliviee moved for any correspondence between Mr. Caton, of Lyttelton, and the Provincial Government or the Waste Lands Board, in reference to an application for a license to occupy a run upon the banks of Lake Ellesmere. He said some difficulty existed between the Waste Lands Board and Mr. Caton, who had applied for the country in question, which he believed to exist, having had an efficient survey of the locality made. He thought that if such was the case such country should either be open for, selection or should be paid for by the party occupying the adjoining run of 5000 acres, originally described as extending to the margin of the 'lake. This was a question which had been raised so long ago as 1858, and it was well ascertained that country in excess of the 5000 acres above mentioned did exist between that and the lake. He did not wish to cast blame on any one by his motion, but merely that justice should be done. Mr. Cass laid all the correspondence on the table, at the game time relating the circumstances of the case, and showing that the country in question was ■formed by the recess of the lake at certain periods. The Waste Lands Board did not conceive themselves justified in granting a license for country lying as this did below the high water level of the Like. Moreover, Mr. Caton had been informed tiiat he was by.no means the first applicant for such country. Mr.OniviEß then asked the Provincial. Secretary whether it is the intention of Government to erect the iron posts in Cathedral Square which are now lying in the ground adjoining. These posts bad been lying there for a length of time, and sorved no other purpose than that of tether pegs for cattle. ;. .. Mr. Blakiston said that the Provincial Engineer had been directed to prepare an estimate of

the cost of tho ejection of these posts, and wh that should be completed, the Government would T in a position to authorize the completion of th work. 8 CATTLE TBESPAS'S. Some discussion here ensued on a motion of M Blakiston for the second reading of the Tresn of Cattle Amendment Ordinance Amendment Vn\ which was ultimately withdrawn in favour of amendment by that gentleman for tho appointing of a Select Committee to arrange the consolidati of the different Ordinances affecting the Tresr> of Cattle; to consist of Messrs. Ollivier,Thorn* Wyatt, Harston, Eooks, li nodes and the mover Mr. Blakiston then moved the Council i* f committee, to receive evidence on the Railw Resolutions, and proposed that the Proving! Solicitor should attend to lay before the Council Draft Railway Bill, to be promoted by His H On a the Superintendent in the approaching Session °p the General Assembly, and to examine witnesses and conduct evidence necessary to procure informs tion on the Railway proposals. a" The Council having resolved itself into commit!* accordingly, the Provincial Solicitor attended anl stated to the committee the line which he proposed to adopt. He had prepared a draft containing th heads of the proposed Bill, to be introduced int the Assembly, which, before introduction, would be submitted to the scrutiny of the Attorney General. With regard to the public and special ' notices requisite, it was only_ necessary that they should be given before the bringing in of the Bill to the House of Representatives. The special notices were now being made out, and would bs issued without unnecessary delay. The learned officer then read the draft Bill, and afterwards proceeded to examine Mr. Dobson the Provincial Engineer, and Mr. Marshman,' the Provincial Treasurer, who were also cross-examined by several hon. members. The evidence will shortly be published in full. J The House then resumed, and after notices of motion, adjourned at half-past nine p.m. till the next day.

Wednesday, April 4 The Council met at the usual hour. Present—The Speaker, Messrs. Alport, Bishop Blakiatori, Cookson, Davis, Dobbs, Fooks, Harston' Higgins, Latter, Miln, Ollivier, Pofcts, IthodeV Rossj Templer, and Thomson. ' Prayers were read by the chaplain and the minutes of last meeting read and confirmed. Mr. Thomson moved for—" The production of Custom House returns of exports and imports of each year since the foundation of this settlement"; and further—" For copies of any correspondence between the Provincial Government and the Collector of Customs on the subject of trade, or shipping, or traffic returns (whether foreign or coastwise) having; any reference to the railway question —or copies of any such' return. Copies of any returns furnished from the Custom House for the use of Mr. Baynes or the Provincial Government." —He said that these returns were asked for by him with a view to give publicity to the resources of the province with reference to the railway question. Mr. Rhodes seconded the motion. Mr. Blakiston would lay on the table all the information under these heads; in the power of the Government to furnish. This consisted of returns of imports and exports from 1853 to 1859; and also letters from the Collector of Customs on the subject of estimated amounts of revenue. He hoped these would satisfy the hon. member. The Goverment was not in possession of copies of the returns obtained by Mr. Baynes from the Custom House. Mr. Ollivier suggested, that all the information asked for might be found already published in the Government Gazette. The motion would only entail extra labour on the Government Staff already too much burdened with work.

Mr. Thomson was aware'that all this information could be found in the Gazette if the file were complete, which he believed was not the case. But apart from that he considered rather that it was the business of the Government to supply the Council with all necessary information than to expect members to wade through files of documents in search of it. Question put and carried on division. Ayes—Messrs. Bishop, Cookson, Davis, Dobbs, Harston, Latter, Miln, Potts, Rhodes, and Thomson.— 10. . Noes—Messrs. Alport, Blakiston, Fooks, Higgins, and Ollivier. —5. On the motion of Mr. Blakiston, the House then went into Committee to take evidence on the Railway question. . , The Provincial Solicitor being in attendance proceeded with the examination of witnesses. Captain McLean, of the firm of Dalgety, Buckley & Co., Mr. Hamilton, Collector of Customs, and Mr. Baynes, Agent of the Contractors,; were examined at length, and were cross-examined by various hon. members. The evidence on the part of the Government being thus completed was ordered to be printed, and the house, having resumed, after notices of motion adjourned at 9 a.m. to Wednesday next, at the usual hour.